Professional Experience

I've focused on estate planning and administration, probate, conservatorships and special needs trusts since 1999, but have a wealth of experience beyond that specialization. I've worked as an associate attorney at a Santa Cruz law firm specializing in real property and business transactions. I have experience in property and business litigation on the trial and appellate levels. Earlier in my career in Santa Cruz, I was employed as an associate attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Santa Cruz, where I was responsible for Social Security disability federal court appeals as well as managing and successfully arguing a major class action appellate action.

While living in San Francisco, I maintained a solo general practice including trial and appellate matters in torts, business, family law, real property and juvenile law. I served as an instructor at Hastings College of Law, University of California, teaching Writing and Research. I had been previously employed part time by major San Francisco insurance defense firms in litigation support.

At the outset of my legal career in 1972, I worked as a legal aid lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio. I represented my clients in a variety of civil, criminal and administrative matters, including a successful constitutional law argument before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Education

Hastings College of Law, University of California, San Francisco: J.D., 1972

• Thurston Honor Society Member
• Order of the Coif

Golden Gate University School of Law, LLM, 2003

University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana: B.A., 1967